Finding the gaps: an assessment of infection control surveillance needs in British Columbia acute care facilities.
BACKGROUND
This paper reports on an infection prevention and control surveillance survey of acute care facilities (ACFs) performed by the Provincial Infection Control Network of British Columbia.


METHODS
A surveillance questionnaire was sent to all health care facilities that had access to an infection control professional. The questionnaire incorporated questions on organism-specific, disease-specific, and general surveillance activities.


RESULTS
Questionnaires were returned from 47 of 51 (92%) of the ACFs surveyed. Participation in surveillance of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus-, vancomycin-resistant Enterococci-, and Clostridium difficile-associated disease ranged from 97% to 100%, but surveillance methodologies were inconsistent. Surgical-site infection surveillance did not correlate with the most commonly performed operations or with those procedures associated with higher morbidity and mortality from a postoperative infection. Considerable variation in data collection methods and case definitions was also identified. Surveillance for urinary tract infections, bloodstream infections, and ventilator-associated pneumonia was present in 28%, 51%, and 23% of responding ACFs, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The current lack of a standardized surveillance system in British Columbia limits the ability of facilities to set appropriate benchmarks to assist in prioritizing and applying infection control interventions. The survey, however, has assisted in prioritizing implementation of surveillance activities and identifying the resources that would be required.
Gamage
Bruce
B
Provincial Infection Control Network, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. bgamage@phsa.ca
Varia
Monali
M
Litt
Margaret
M
Pugh
Sarah
S
Bryce
Elizabeth
E
D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D001955:British Columbia; D016360:Clostridioides difficile; D003422:Critical Care; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016983:Enterococcus; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006268:Health Facilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D058016:Health Facility Administration; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods* / Q000458:organization & administration; D016357:Infection Control Practitioners; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods*; D020713:Vancomycin Resistance